ROYAL ASCOT 2019 – DAY 3
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- 22 June 2019
THE FRANKIE FACTOR
Racegoers who attended Royal Ascot on Gold Cup day witnessed a rare and unexpected bonus when racing’s most popular jockey, Frankie Dettori, rode a 449/1 four-timer.
The crowd clapped and cheered each winner, as Dettori responded to the moment, and Guy Henderson, Ascot’s chief executive, said: “When I put my spectator hat on I enjoy watching someone riding with such supreme confidence it generates success. It’s not always on a short-priced horse, but the confidence and ease with which Frankie rides horses is great to watch.
“When he turns into the straight at Ascot he has the confidence to go early and they keep running for him – it’s a joy to watch. He’s magnificent, and there is no other word for it. He genuinely enjoys performing – all the jockeys are professional athletes and they all have their different ways of performing to be in the zone. He seems to improve his performance by engaging with the crowd.”
Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course, said: “When Frankie’s in form he really sets this place alight. After his first three winners I thought, ‘Wow, that’s amazing’, and he still had a ride on Stradivarius, the favourite in the Gold Cup to come.
“It wasn’t Stradivarius’s favourite ground, and to win two Gold Cups is a pretty remarkable feat. The horse is very tough.
“We will miss Frankie when he retires – he’s a superstar. He loves this place and rides it really well. He certainly got the crowd very excited.”
SPONSORS BRACE FOR SECOND £1M STAYERS BONUS
Insurance company Weatherbys Hamilton are preparing for another £1m pay out to racehorse owner Bjorn Nielsen after his Stradivarius won today’s Gold Cup.
Nick Craven, representing the company, admitted “No one thought we would pay out £1m,” although they had to last year when Stradivarius won four designated staying races and scooped the cash. The sponsorship is designed to encourage the breeding, buying and owning of staying horses.
Craven said: “A horse as good as this is brilliant over this trip. It was a hot, hot Gold Cup, with some very talented, big-race winners in against him, but he did it so well.
“Everyone wants him to win another bonus, and so do we. It is great publicity for us and also for staying horses, and that is what this is all about. This horse is a real favourite now, and he’s doing it for stayers.”
DETTORI WILL “DO IT ALL AGAIN TOMORROW”
Fresh from riding four winners from the first four races at Royal Ascot this afternoon, Frankie Dettori is already relishing the prospect of day four of Royal Ascot.
The 48-year-old superstar jockey was on on the cusp of another spellbinding day at the Berkshire venue, 23 years on from his Magnificent Seven when he partnered all seven winners at the Festival of Racing at Ascot in September, 1996, which had cumulative odds of 25,051/1.
Dettori’s 449/1 four-timer today came aboard A’Ali (G2 Norfolk Stakes, 5/1, Simon Crisford), Sangarius (G3 Hampton Court Stakes, 13/2, Sir Michael Stoute), Star Catcher (G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, 4/1, John Gosden) and Stradivarius (G1 Gold Cup, John Gosden, Evens)
Dettori looked set for win number five of the day in the Britannia Handicap aboard 7/2 favourite Turgenev, before he was caught by 28/1 shot Biometric.
Reflecting on the day, he said: “It has been a brilliant day and long may it continue. I love to ride for John Gosden as I have no pressure and that makes him a good man to ride for. I’m looking forward to doing it all over again tomorrow.”
BOOKMAKERS BLUSHES SPARED
Bookmakers’ blushes were spared at Royal Ascot this afternoon after Frankie Dettori had to settle for second in the fifth race after riding the first four winners. The 48-year-old riding legend was on the cusp of another spellbinding day at the Berkshire venue, 23 years on from his Magnificent Seven when he partnered all seven winners at the Festival of Racing at Ascot in September, 1996 which had cumulative odds of 25,051/1.
Dettori’s 449/1 four-time today came aboard A’Ali (G2 Norfolk Stakes, 5/1, Simon Crisford), Sangarius (G3 Hampton Court Stakes, 13/2, Sir Michael Stoute), Star Catcher (G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, 4/1, John Gosden) and Stradivarius (G1 Gold Cup, John Gosden, Evens)
It looked for most of the Britannia Handicap that Dettori would be on for a five-timer, but Turgenev, the 7/2 favourite was caught in the closing stages by 28/1 shot Biometric, trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Harry Bentley.
Dettori has now ridden 66 winners at the Royal Meeting overall and this was his sixth victory of the week at the Berkshire venue, following his four wins today and two yesterday.
Discussing today’s dramatic events, Betfred spokesman Matt Hulmes said: “We were staring down the barrel of a cannon, and two furlongs out in the Britannia the worst fears were running through our heads, but Harry Bentley has certainly done the layers a favour.
“It’s still been costly, and millions has been given back to the punters. The Frankie factor is always at its highest here at Ascot and the patrons love him. It’s another great advert for the sport on the biggest of stages, but we do owe some gratitude to Biometric!”
A’ALI LANDS THE KNOCKOUT BLOW IN THE NORFOLK STAKES, GR.2
A’ALI
Trainer Simon Crisford recorded his second success as a trainer at Royal Ascot and his first victory of this year’s meeting following the well-backed A’Ali’s (5/1 from 8/1) win in the £100,000 G2 Norfolk Stakes, the first race on day three of the Royal Meeting. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, notching his 63rd success overall at the Royal Meeting and third of the week, A’ali tracked the pace in mid-division in the early stages of the five-furlong contest and ran on strongly to score by a neck, holding off the Richard Fahey-trained Ventura Rebel (16/1) in second.
A’Ali is owned by Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa of Bahrain, a close friend of Godolphin’s owner Sheikh Mohammed – the two-year-old son of Society Rock was his first runner at Royal Ascot.
Second on his debut over five furlongs at Ripon in a novice event, A’Ali took the step up to G2 company in his stride this afternoon.
A delighted Newmarket-based Crisford, Godolphin’s former racing manager, was successful with Ostilio at last year’s Royal Meeting and he was thrilled to return to the winner’s enclosure at the Berkshire venue. He said: “I used to think having winners at Royal Ascot was like picking apples off a tree! However, since I’ve started training on my own it hasn’t been quite as simple as that, but it means everything. Frankie is obviously the go-to jockey when you really need somebody – he was available and he gave A’Ali a super ride. When I saw them cantering to the start, I thought A’Ali was very fresh. He put up huge speed figures when he ran at Ripon and the bounce factor was in my mind. I was worried that he had put in such a big effort there that it would count against him. A’Ali travelled well enough, picked up nicely and has a good turn of foot. We’ve always known he was a very good horse and that is why we ran him in a Group Two despite being beaten on his first start. A’Ali is a top-notch horse. All the guys who do figures and analyse races using sectional times were screaming about this horse from the rooftop. I wouldn’t have run him today, unless he galloped out well after the winning line at Ripon. He galloped out super strong there and then I knew the right target was this Group Two and not a novice event at Wolverhampton. It is great to be in the winner’s enclosure at Royal Ascot and I am surrounded by some really strong supporters of mine over the years including Sheikh Mohammed. His great friend Shaikh Duaij owns this horse and is from the Royal Family of Bahrain. They have all been so supportive and it counts for a lot.
“Shaikh Duaij is steeped in racing history. His uncle used to own horses like Jellaby in the 1970s. He has always been a huge enthusiast and this is his first runner at the Royal Meeting, which is brilliant. This horse can now sit in that tidy packet of horses which Shaikh Duaij’s uncle used to have – he is a good colt.
“I think A’Ali will get six furlongs. He is out of a Motivator mare [Motion Lass] so we could look at stepping him up in trip. The doors are open for everything with him. He will be campaigned as a two-year-old. He’s small, he’s neat, he’s tidy and he’ll have a proper two-year-old campaign.”
Bookmakers were given a warning of possible carnage when Frankie Dettori won the opening race at Royal Ascot today, the G2 Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs. Dettori has a full book of rides on the card, and, at a course where in September 1996 he won all seven races, something similar would be enough to empty bookmakers’ accounts.
The son of late stallion Society Rock was beaten on his first start at Ripon earlier this month, but made no mistake today, beating Ventura Rebel (16/1) and Dubai Station (14/1) by a neck and two and three-quarters of a length. Sunday Sovereign was the 13/8 favourite – he finished eighth of the 14 runners.
Dettori said: “I spent half of my 30 years in racing with Simon [when Crisford was racing manager to Godolphin and Dettori first jockey] – we’ve both gone our own ways and he’s now training. This brings back some great memories and I’m really delighted. We’re all family. I had an unbelievable ride and the horse travelled like a winner all the way. He pulled out and quickened, and it certainly made my life easy. A’Ali was travelling so good. He did everything so professionally, though he did idle a bit in front. I suspect Simon will back him up in the five-furlong race at Goodwood [Molecomb Stakes], as he has so much speed.
Venture Rebel ridden by Paul Hanagan, the Pastoral Pursuits colt was a 16/1 shot and finished two and three-quarter lengths ahead of third-placed Dubai Station. Yorkshire-based Fahey said: “He ran a blinder. No excuses, they were a long way clear of the rest and we’re very pleased. He’ll probably progress; he’s going the right way and he’s got a good mind. The soft option here was the Windsor Castle Stakes, but I thought we’d nearly win this – I got it wrong.”
Dubai Station, a 14/1 chance, was trained by Karl Burke, also Yorkshire-based, and ridden by Jamie Spencer. Burke said: “We knew coming here that he probably needed the extra furlong, to be honest, but [owner] Ahmad Alshaikh wanted to come here. The Coventry was always the toughest of the two-year-old races; that was his trip, six furlongs, so we decided between the Norfolk and the Windsor Castle. We were probably headed for the Windsor Castle but Ahmad said he’d rather come for this race. In a way it’s worked out really well. He’s won on soft ground but he probably wants it a little bit better; today was probably quicker than he won on. Jamie gave him a great ride. He rides this course so well like that and it suited Dubai Station, we were always going to ride him to finish. If he’d been on his head early on I don’t think he would have finished so well. We’re very happy, and we’ll aim him at the Gimcrack Stakes [at York] which the owner won last year with a horse trained by Kevin Ryan. He’ll hopefully have one run between then and now. I think a good, flat galloping track will be perfect for him. I think it was a very good performance and the first two must be very quick horses, but knowing that we are going to be better over six furlongs makes us full of confidence.”
Ventura Blue’s jockey Paul Hanagan said: “He’s run a great race. It is frustrating when you get beat when it is that close, but you’ve got to be delighted. He has done nothing wrong, we have come far clear of the rest so it is a fantastic effort. The ground is a little bit tacky.”
The third-placed Dubai Station (14/1), also trained in Yorkshire by Karl Burke, came from the back of the pack to mount his challenge and finished two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner. His rider Jamie Spencer said: “He’s run well, I was probably disadvantaged with where we were drawn [three], it was difficult to challenge. The ground is a bit dead.”
DETTORI IS SANGUINE ABOUT HIS DOUBLE
Sangarius
Frankie Dettori won his second successive winner of the third day of Royal Ascot 2019 – and his fourth at this year’s meeting – when Sangarius won the G3 £90,000 Hampton Court Stakes. It takes him to the front of QIPCO Leading Jockey Award, with Ryan Moore and Danny Tudhope sharing second place with three wins apiece. Following A’Ali’s success in the opening Norfolk Stakes, Sangarius gave Dettori the second half of a 44/1 double.
The Kingman colt, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by Khalid Abdullah, was impressive in beating the 7/2 favourite Fox Chairman (Andrew Balding/Silvestre de Sousa) by two and a quarter lengths at odds of 13/2.
Dettori, who has now ridden 64 Royal Ascot winners in his career, said: “I hope I haven’t used up all my luck! I came in this morning thinking Stradivarius [favourite for the G1 Gold Cup] was my best ride. He’s not until race four and I win the first two races, and I’m thinking, ‘Oh God…’ It’s Ascot, you’ve got to have 10 plans for a race and hope you pick the right one. I had half a split and I took it. He’s a very brave horse – he’s very big, so he made himself plenty of room, and boy, didn’t he half quicken for a big horse. It was a great performance. I saw daylight, which in these races is very unusual, and I was able to push him out to the line and enjoy the moment. I embrace the pressure. It is part and parcel of the job and I thrive off it.”
Sangarius’s (Kingman-Trojan Queen) form looked good coming into the ten-furlong Hampton Court Stakes (G3) having finished third to King Of Comedy, this week’s St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) runner-up, in the mile Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown in May. The form lines held good today.
A strapping bay three-year-old son of Juddmonte Farm’s Kingman, the Prince Khalid Abdullah-owned colt put the race to bed in a matter of strides, going away to win by a two and a quarter lengths.
“He is a horse we have always liked a lot,” said trainer Sir Michael Stoute. “He did it well, he was tight for space, and he couldn’t get enough room to get into a rhythm. But he has a turn of foot, and he is improving, he is a nice horse. He very quickly put a lot of space between himself and the field, that is a good sign. There was not a suitable mile and a quarter race for him in the spring, so we went to Sandown. He was a little bit undercooked there as he had had a hold-up in March,” explained Stoute, who laughingly added: “Frankie is getting pretty old, but we’d better hang on in there!”
Sangarius’s form looked good coming into the ten-furlong Hampton Court Stakes (G3) having finished third to King Of Comedy, this week’s St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) runner-up, in the mile Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown in May. The form lines held good.
A strapping bay three-year-old son of Juddmonte Farm’s Kingman, the Prince Khalid Abdullah-owned colt put the race to bed in a matter of strides, going away to win by a two and a quarter lengths under jockey Frankie Dettori, who was riding a quick double on the day two card.
“He is a horse we have always liked a lot,” said trainer Sir Michael Stoute. “He did it well, he was tight for space, and he couldn’t get enough room to get into a rhythm. But he has a turn of foot, and he is improving, he is a nice horse. He very quickly put a lot of space between himself and the field, that is a good sign!
“There was not a suitable mile and a quarter race for him in the spring, so we went to Sandown. He was little bit undercooked there as he had had a hold-up in March,” explained Stoute, who laughingly added: “Frankie is getting pretty old, but we’d better hang on in there!” The Newmarket-based trainer has now accrued 81 Royal Ascot winners, a new record.
Racehorse owners King Power Racing and trainer Andrew Balding were back in the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure today, but in the place reserved for runners-up. The same combination were in that position on Tuesday, when Beat The Bank was a neck second in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, and today they had to settle for the same placing after Fox Chairman finished behind Sangarius.
Sangarius (13/2) beat Fox Chairman (7/2f) by two and a quarter lengths, but the gap would have been unquestionably smaller had the runner-up not been checked twice as Silvestre de Sousa attempted to find gaps in the home straight. The partnership had not been helped by their slow start, but Fox Chairman ran on strongly once finding clear space and caught third-placed King Ottakar (5/1) near the line to finish a neck ahead of that rival. Asked to reflect on the race, Balding sportingly handed praise to Sangarius, saying: “I think the winner has run very well and we take nothing away from him, but we would have been closer.
“That was only the third start for our horse, and he’s certainly a very nice horse in the making. We’ll work back from the autumn and take it from there. I don’t want to over-race him because he’ll stay in training next season. He’s going to be a very smart horse in time.”
GOSDEN IS ALREADY SEEING STARS
Star Catcher
Star Catcher gave Derby-winning owner/breeder Anthony Oppenheimer another major success when taking the G2 £215,000 12f Ribblesdale Stakes by a length and a half from 7/4 favourite Fleeting. The Sea The Stars filly, a 4/1 chance, was trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, who was scoring his third victory of the day and his fifth of Royal Ascot 2019. Oppenheimer, also owner and breeder of sixth-placed Frankellina (William Haggas/James Doyle), said: “I’m an extremely happy man. We knew she was very useful – when she ran third at Newbury, Frankie said he made a mistake and he thought she could have won, and so we knew she was pretty smart. Frankellina is also very smart, but I think she didn’t quite stay – I’m not sure, I haven’t spoken to William Haggas yet. “Star Catcher’s a nice filly, very useful.”
Gosden said: “A great friend of mine Simon [Crisford] trained the winner of the Norfolk, then Stoutey produced his horse beautifully [to win the Hampton Court Stakes – both were ridden by Dettori], and we have planned this since Star Catcher won her maiden in April. These have all been plans and now we are expecting Frankie to win the Gold Cup, but this is a funny old game and it probably won’t happen. The ground is rather testing for Stradivarius, it’s not his scene. Having said that, this 48-year-old kid takes it to another level, a bit like a Wimbledon semi-final or final. He is riding quite beautifully, and is occasionally listening to me but not much! Star Catcher broke her maiden at Newbury and Frankie got straight off her and said don’t go for the Oaks, go for the Ribblesdale because she hasn’t yet got the strength for the Oaks. The pace was a bit slow when she ran in that Listed race at Newbury. Frankie said he went too slow, but I told him not to worry because she will stay well and has run a nice trial.”
FRANKIE AT THE TREBLE – IS THERE MORE TO COME?
Frankie Dettori’s love affair with Royal Ascot continued as he recorded a third straight success on day three of the Royal Meeting, notching a 224/1 treble in the process.
Dettori has now accrued 65 winners at Royal Ascot, including five this week, two yesterday and the first three today – he heads the QIPCO Royal Ascot Top Jockey Award standings. He now rides Even-money favourite Stradivarius in the G1 Gold Cup for John Gosden.
Dettori said: “It can’t get any better than having three winners in the first three races on Gold Cup day. It’s lovely to have a winner for John Gosden too as we can take a breath of relief as a team now ahead of Stradivarius. I wasn’t sure Star Catcher would win as we had four in the race, but she did it well. I just hope I can the win the next race because the Gold Cup is the most important. I hope I haven’t used up all my luck.” Liabilities are rising all the time and Stradivarius is the one they have all come to back. Frankie has already generated big losses for bookmakers and Stradivarius could hit the right note next up for them.
STRADIVARIUS HITS THE RIGHT NOTE ‘FOUR’ DETTORI
Stradivarius
Four races at Royal Ascot so far this afternoon and Frankie Dettori has won them all! The Italian rider completed his 449/1 four-timer with a dramatic victory aboard the John Gosden-trained Stradivarius, the Even-money favourite, in the feature £500,000 G1 Gold Cup. There is Frankie Dettori fever pulsating around Ascot with the rider greeted rapturously on his return to the winner’s enclosure. Britain’s best-known jockey, who loves Ascot more than any other course, is even himself contemplating that he could ride all six winners today. He of course completed the ‘Magnificent Seven’ – partnering all seven winners at the Festival of Racing at Ascot in October, 1996 which had cumulative odds of 25,051/1.
Five-year-old Sea The Stars entire Stradivarius met trouble in the home straight as he was hemmed in behind a wall of horses. However, once the gap opened, Stradivarius showed his brave and battling qualities to forge ahead inside the final furlong and held on gamely to win by a length from 7/2 shot Dee Ex Bee, trained by Mark Johnston, in second.
Stradivarius becomes the first horse since Yeats (2006-2009) to win back-to-back renewals of the G1 Gold Cup.
Dettori’s other victories this afternoon came aboard A’Ali (G2 Norfolk Stakes, 5/1, Simon Crisford), Sangarius (G3 Hampton Court Stakes, 13/2, Sir Michael Stoute) and Star Catcher (G2 Ribblesdale Stakes, 4/1, John Gosden).
Dettori has now ridden 66 winners at the Royal Meeting overall and this was his sixth victory of the week at the Berkshire venue following his four wins today and two yesterday.
The 48-year-old racing legend said: “Stradivarius is an amazing horse. He is now unbeaten in his last seven starts. He has won two Ascot Gold Cups – his heart is bigger than his body. Stradivarius does not know how to lose. All I have to do is get him amongst other horses and he does the rest – what a horse. For a stayer, this lad has everything. He loves getting into a fight and he is a brilliant horse to ride. Everyone loves him, including me. It is fantastic for the stable, Bjorn Nielsen (owner/breeder) and everybody else involved… I am so thrilled. I get nervous [riding this horse] because the people care about him so much and it is a great story for Bjorn and the stable. Every time he runs, he delivers, he is unbelievable. I wasn’t worried about the trouble in the home straight as I just had to wait for the split. It got tight, but when I got the split, it was all over. In many ways, when it got tight that meant that I didn’t hit the front too early. I know that he has a great kick.
The roar from the crowd was incredible. This horse has captured people’s imaginations in the way that he runs and the way that he wins – we’ll bring him back next year.”
“I will enjoy this first and then think about number 5! I said to Chris Stickels (Clerk of the Course) that you might have to get another statue for me! Today has a similar feel to 1996 – you never know!”
GOSDEN ON THE FABULOUS FRANKIE AND REMARKABLE STRADIVARIUS
Stradivarius
Stradivarius won his second G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot today, but for once a wonderful horse’s big-race victory was in danger of being overshadowed by his jockey.
The win meant that Frankie Dettori, who rode Stradivarius, completed a very rare Royal Ascot four-timer in consecutive races. The partnership, sent off the even-money favourite, won by a length from pace-setter Dee Ex Bee (7/2) with Master Of Reality (66/1) a nose further behind in third.
Not unnaturally winning trainer John Gosden was asked to comment on the jockey as much as the horse. He said: “Frankie is like a player who gets to the final of Wimbledon and then raises it to another level. He rode a beautiful race. He is a phenomenon – for a kid of 48 he is remarkable. And when he rides here he goes to another level. He’s been in the gym, working out, and then he comes and rides out for me, and he’s so relaxed. The horses are here to do a job, but he does it so beautifully with them and that makes a difference.
“[On the home turn] Stradivarius was held in by Capri and then he saw the light and Frankie managed to wriggle through. It was noted in commentary that he was in a rather tricky position, but he did the clever thing because he was drawn two and decided to save ground all the way and wait for a gap. It was a long wait, but the horse is very classy. This is not Stradivarius’ favoured ground – he is a much better horse on top of the ground – but he has just shown that he can still quicken on that kind of ground. Full marks to a remarkable horse, and a mercurial and remarkable jockey.
“There have been some great stayers; Le Moss, Sagaro, who Francois Boutin brought over three times, Yeats as well. They are super, wonderful horses and great for the racing public because people get to know them. This little guy with his white socks and white face looks like the Milky Bar Kid should be riding him rather than a jockey, but he is remarkable athlete and a charming horse to be around. He has a beautiful mind on him.”
NIELSEN LIVING THE PEAKS, BUT EXPECTING THE VALLEYS
He may not be have the horses of Coolmore or Godolphin, and he has never owned a Classic winner, but Bjorn Nielsen is one of the most envied men in racing. Nielsen owns and bred Stradivarius, the John Gosden-trained four-year-old who today won his second £500,000 G1 Gold Cup, and is homing in on the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million, a £1m bonus which he won last year. It involves winning four designated stayers’ races, and after his Sagaro Stakes victory last month plus today’s victory, Stradivarius must now land the G1 Goodwood Cup and the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Stakes to land the million for a second time.
Stradivarius became Frankie Dettori’s fourth winner on the card, and Nielsen admitted: “During the third race I was saying to myself ‘Get back, Frankie’, because I did not believe he could win four races in a row. He’s riding so confidently, and he rode Stradivarius confidently. He’s such a good stayer, he has a huge heart, and his mind is so relaxed. I hope it can continue for a while.
“I don’t have the [Weatherbys Hamilton] bonus in mind, because these races are so hard to win. People think you can just get these horses out and go and win the Goodwood Cup, but remember last year he lost a shoe in this race and was lame afterwards. That can take two or three weeks to get over and you can miss a race and the bonus. That’s why I’m not focused on bonus – if he’s fine and comes out of this race okay, then I’d like to take him to Goodwood.”
Stradivarius was briefly boxed in by rivals as they turned into the straight, but Nielsen said: “I wasn’t worried because I could see what was behind and how they were travelling, and I was sure he would get a gap at some point. Capri was on his outside, but he got tired, and once Frankie went through the gap it was over. Once he gets to the horse that’s in front of him he goes and he’s not for catching.
Confidence is a lot in any sport, and while Frankie has had his setbacks his ‘second career’ is even better than his first. Now he’s riding as well as ever, and he has so much confidence when he’s riding here at Royal Ascot. That gives me confidence because he puts a horse in the right position and he doesn’t make mistake in the big races.”
The great Yeats won four Gold Cups, so would Nielsen like Stradivarius to pursue that record tally in the race. He said: “I’d like to keep Stradivarius going for as long as his mind and body want to do it. I’m not thinking Yeats, or even Sagaro, Le Moss and Ardross – they were such legends. You can never say he was in their league until his career has finished and you can look back and assess him. He’s a very good horse, but they were legends and this is a different era. I’d love him to go on forever, but I know I’ll be going through the valleys again one day when I’ll be coming back here with no runners.”
BECKETT SPOILS DETTORI’S PARTY
Biometric
“I’ve lost my voice a bit. I think me and my family were the only people on the racecourse shouting!” said trainer Ralph Beckett after Biometric won the £120,000 mile Britannia Handicap, and halted Frankie Dettori’s charge through the card in the process.
Dettori had won the previous four races, and spectators and punters were hoping that he could emulate his 1996 feat of winning all the races on an Ascot card at the Festival Meeting in September.
“I’m sorry to spoil Frankie’s party, but that’s horses,” said Beckett. Biometric, a three-year-old son of Bated Breath, owned and bred by Khalid Abdullah and ridden by Harry Bentley, came home at odds of 28/1 a length and a quarter ahead of 7/2 favourite Turgenev – ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Beckett continued: “He was flat out at half way. At the three-furlong pole I thought we were going to be last – or that they had gone too hard. He’s had a slightly unorthodox prep because after he won his first two races, to be qualified for this race he had to have a third run, and the only option I really had was a six-
furlong novice at Lingfield, which was obviously going to be too sharp for him. It was still nearly three weeks before this race and if we were to come here, he had to run somewhere.
“I never thought he would win over seven furlongs, he never showed enough speed to do that, so to win two over seven meant that he was obviously going to step up in trip, so this was an obvious race for him. It was never the plan to be that far back, but they’ve gone hard and it’s fallen into place. I’m absolutely delighted. He’s always been a sleeper, not a flash worker, he had an issue as a two-year-old and we never ran him – this is absolutely great and we’re thrilled.
“Harry Bentley had a contract with Sheikh Fahad when he was just out of his apprenticeship, so I have known him for a long time, and we used him quite a bit when Jim Crowley left. He then took a job with Roger Varian, which didn’t work out for him, and he’s ridden plenty for us over the past year and he’s coming of age now, which is great.”
AOB MAKES IT 1-2-3 IN KING GEORGE V STAKES
South Pacific
On a day dominated by Frankie Dettori, one of horseracing’s other biggest names made sure he got on the scoresheet as Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien trained the 1-2-3 in the concluding King George V Handicap.
22/1 shot South Pacific (Seamie Heffernan) led home stable companions Constantinople (11/2, Ryan Moore) and Eminence (25/1 Wayne Lordan) with a neck success in the 12-furlong contest.
O’Brien recording his 69th winner at the Royal Meeting and fourth this week said: “South Pacific is a lovely horse who is progressing all the time. He was a bit babyish, but he is coming along lovely. Seamus gave him a lovely ride and he was very happy going a mile and a half. He is progressing with every run and I think he will get further than a mile and a half in time.
Constantinople is a lovely horse. He is only a baby. For him to do that with top-weight, we could not be happier and Eminence is another big horse who ran well and is still progressing.
“They ran off nice marks all three of them and they will continue to progress. We can probably keep them to handicap company for the time and see how they continue to develop.”
This was O’Brien’s third success in handicap company at the Royal Meeting (2015 Britannia Handicap, War Envoy & 2016 Wolverfton Handicap, Sir Isaac Newton).
